More and more striped bass are showing up in New England, while increased bug hatches are keeping the trout guys busy.
Connecticut Fishing Report
At Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, Andrew reports that the local CT River tributaries are starting to really fill up with herring, and the bass are really starting to take notice. Most of these bass are smaller, holdover fish, but the first few reports of fish to 40-inches are trickling in. The majority of the larger catches have been on herring-sized swimmers, and have been coming after dark. The main river is still loaded with schoolies from Middletown to the mouth, and the guys dunking sandworms caught all week, despite the river being around flood stage. The winter flounder bite has been slow overall, but it seems that if you put enough time in you can come away with some nice keepers; with the best flounder catches coming from the Niantic River and Bluff Point. The local shad anglers also reported their first good catches of the season, which usually coincides with the time the spring river fishing really takes off!
Over at Hillyers in Waterford, blackfish reports remain quiet, but water temperatures should be approaching the level where good spring fishing usually starts. A lot of local anglers will target some of the smaller rockpiles inside the river early on in the season, as the water temperatures will rise quicker on the inside. Guys are still catching flounder in the river with some consistency, but it has not been lock and load. Schools of small bait are moving into the river and Jordan Cove, so schoolie action should be strong in both locations.
Gene, at Black Hall Outfitters in Old Lyme, told me that the stripers continue to wake up more and more each day in the local rivers. The overall size of fish is starting to improve, and fish into the high-teens are becoming a bit more common. Unweighted plastics like the Plum Island mondo, along with Daiwa SP Minnows seem to be catching most of the bigger fish. Flows are good in the local rivers, and trout action has remained very consistent. Local flounder anglers have seen a few bigger fish in the mix this week, and tautog action is slow along the shore, but is improving in deeper water. Freshwater bass guys are reporting more largemouth and smallmouth moving into the shallower rocky and sandy areas, as they are looking to spawn. Catches of both species have been good, especially on jerk baits and small jigs. Slow crawling a 3.75 green pumpkin swim bait on grass flats near deeper water has produced a lot of largemouth, pickerel, and even big perch.
Rich, at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk, reported that everything started to wake up over the past ten days or so. There has been a large influx of bait in the area; most of it has been small, but bunker is in the harbor and herring are moving up the rivers. The Norwalk area is holding a good deal of school fish, but the best bet for quality and quantity is the Housatonic. Fish to 30-pounds were reported in the river this week, and that will only improve as more herring enter. Winter flounder fishing has improved greatly this week as well, with the channel edges and flats in the harbor producing the best. Freshwater reports have been strong from the Saugatuck Reservoir, where some big browns to 6-pounds were caught this week.
The Compleat Angler in Darien had some strong reports from both the Housatonic and Farmington. The Housatonic is at 1280 cfs, and guys are hooking up on big streamers and nymphing with big stone flies. There have also been some reports of anglers hooking some large northern pike in the TMA, by swinging big streamers. Holdover trout are also starting to wake up a bit in the Farmington, and that should only improve this week. The permanent C&R area is a good place to look for big fish, and the freshly stocked areas are putting up good numbers. There is more and more bug activity, with the bulk of it in the afternoons: Baetis/Blue Wing Olives sz 16-18, Early Stones sz 12-16, Midges sz 20-26, and a few Paraleps/Blue Quills sz 18.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
The Frances Fleet in Narragansett was finally able to find a nice weather window and get out on the cod grounds last weekend. Fishing wasn’t quite lock and load, but things are definitely improving. The majority of anglers left with a cod fish or two for dinner, and there were also ocean perch and ocean pout in the mix to keep the action steady. There were no giant cod to speak of, but most fish were fat, quality market cod. The fleet will continue to sail for cod on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; along with weekends at 7 AM by reservation. Squid are starting to show up in the area, and the fluke and squid trips will kick off in May.
Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, reports that a decent push of squid, herring and mackerel have been spotted in Newport, and the schoolie bass are taking notice. The amount of bait should be attracting the first push of larger bass any day now. Tautog is now open, and while reports have been quiet, anglers will likely start to find some fish in a week or so as the water continues to warm. Freshwater fishing remains strong in all of the trout stocked lakes and ponds. Largemouth bass and calico also seem to be putting on a strong feed, as of late. As has been the case all spring, the local carp anglers continue to score very good catches throughout the state.
Mike, at Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly, reported that the continued warm weather has activity improving in the striped bass fishery. Schoolies are still being caught in the salt ponds, and fresh school fish have recently shown up at the West Wall. The Pawcatuck River also continues to hold a good amount of fish, and a few bigger ones have been in the mix. Many anglers are still heading over the border to CT for winter flounder, and while the action is still on the slow side, most are reporting better catches than the previous week.
Connecticut Fishing Forecast
More and more striped bass activity in both states signifies that spring is here, and things should only improve. Fresh arrivals are all over Rhode Island, and a push of bigger fish shouldn’t be far behind. In CT, school fish can be found in plenty of locations, but larger fish are hot on the tail of river herring. Winter flounder action seems to be picking up, and provides another saltwater option. Freshwater options are plentiful in states, and the spring trout fishing should really take off as the Hendrickson hatch starts to materialize.